Motor controller



Feb. 6, 1934. c. STANSBURY 1,945,830

MOTOR CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 12, 19:51

Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,945,830 MOTOR comaouna Carroll Stansbury,

Cutler-Hammer, In

Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to 0., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application February 12,1931. Serial No. 515,19: 8 Claims. (01. 172-288) This invention relates to the control of the acceleration and operating speed of motors by means of electron tubes.

An object of the invention'is to provide for controlling the acceleration of a motor at a given rate.

Another object is to control the acceleration of a motor as a function of the accelerating current and time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elementary diagram illustrating the use of the invention for commutating theaccelerating resistance of a motor at a given rate modified by an influence of the accelerating current.

Figs. 2 and 3 show modifications of the system illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l, L and L are respectively the negative and positive terminals of a direct current supply circuit, which supplies current to a motor 1 having an armature 1 and a field winding 1'. The field winding 1 is connected across the lines L --L A magnetic switch 2, having a winding 2", normally closed contacts 2 and normally open contacts 2 and 2 respectively, is provided for commutating various circuits which will be explained later. A gaseous thermionic tube 3, having a heated cathode 3, an anode 3 and a grid 3 serves to control the motor accelerating resistance. A normally open push button switch 4 provides for starting of the equipment, while a normally closed push button switch 5 provides The push button switches 4 and 5 are connected in series with the winding 2 across the lines L and L switch 4 being paralleled by the contacts 2. An impedance 6 is connected across the lines L and L, the connection to the line" L being controlled by the contacts 2 The armature 1 of the motor is in series with an impedance '7, the purpose of which is to be explained below, and with an accelerating impedance 8. The armature circuit is controlled by the contact 2. The cathode 3' is connected to the junction point of the impedances 'l and 8 and the anode 3 to the junction between the impedance 8 and the armature 1*, so that when the tube becomes conducting it shunts the. impedance 8. A condenser 9, having plates of opposite polarity 9 and 9 connects thegrid 3 with the resistance 6 and is shunted by an adjustable impedance 10, which is preferably noninductive.

The system illustrated in Fig. 1 operates as iollowsz- When the lines L and L are energized the shunt field 1 is excited. Closure of switch 4 causes current to flow from line L, through windmg 2', switches 5 and 4 to line L The magnet for stopping thereof switch 2 is thereby energized and attracts its armature and opens contacts 2 and closes contacts 2 and 2. Closure of contacts cuits switch 4, so that push button 4. may be released without deenergizing switch'2. Closure of contacts 2 completes the armature circuit from line L, through contacts 2, the armature and the impedances 8- and '7 to line L The armature is thereupon accelerated. Opening of contacts 2 opens the circuit from line L to line L through resistance 6. Prior to the opening of contacts 2' the grid 3 of tube 3 had a potential positive with respect to the cathode. Upon opening of contacts 2 which takes place before closure of contacts 2 condenser plate 9 becomes negative, resulting in a corresponding drop of the potential of plate 9 to a value which makes the grid 3 negative with respect to line L Completion of the motor circuit impresses substantiallythe potential of line L upon anode 3 while cathode 3' has a potential which is equal to that of line L plus the potential drop through the impedance 7. The grid 3 therefore becomes still more negative with respect to the cathode 3. Closure of contact 2 impresses a high potential between cathode and anode, but no current can flow between them on account of the negative grid potential. This negative grid potential gradually is reduced by discharge through impedance 10 until it is low enough to permit current flow through the tube.

2' short cir- The latter current in effect reduces the impedance of the armature circuit and thus causes further acceleration oi the motor.

It is obviously possible to employ a number 0! starting steps, each with an impedance; and .a corresponding tube and adjust the system so that the various steps operate in succession. 7

It is apparent that the potential of the cathode 3 and thus the potential of the grid with respect to the cathode vary with the voltage drop through the impedance '7. The moment at which the grid attains the proper potential with respect to the cathode to permit current flow through the tube is thus affected by the accelerating current of the motor, so that the accelerating impedance is varied in accordance with the time function of the condenser discharge circuit, modified by the accelerating conditions of the motor.

Referring now to Fig. 2 it will be seen that it isa modification of Fig. l. A magnet switch 11 having a magnet winding 11' and normally open contacts ll when energized short-circuits the accelerating impedance 8. One terminal of the winding 11 is connected to the anode 3', while the other terminal is connected through the contacts" any other type may be employed. Two therminally the potential of the line L while the potenonic tubes 12 and 13 have the respective cathodes tial of the cathode 13 is positive with respect to 12' and 13', anodes 12" and 13 and grids-12 and said grid by an amount which is determined by 18'. A resistance 14 is connected between the the voltage drop of the armature current through 15 and 16 shunt the tube 12. The field winding cathode 13 so that the former is not any more liatance 17 has one terminal connected to the through the impedance 14, tube 13, contacts 11 grid 18 while its other terminal is connected to and impedance 7 to line L The potential of 15 the movable contact of the resistance 18, one the condenser plates 20 and 22 was approxi- 01' the latter being connected to the line mately that of the positive line 'L before the tube L An adjustable resistance 19 is connected be- 13 conducted. Due to the flow of current this ccnneeted to the anode 12. while its other plate 12 negative with respect to the cafhode 12" and 21' is onnected to the grid 13. A condenser 22 current flow through the tube 12 and impedance has its plate 22' connected to the grid 12, while 15 is stopped so that the current passing through ugh magnet winding 2, normally charged as the grid 12 is negative. This nega- 0 losed push button 5 and normally open push tive charge gradually leaks oil from the grid and button 4 to line L. The magnet switch 2 is the condenser plate 22 through the resistance energized and it attracts its armature 19, tube 13, back to condenser plate 22. As soon and opens the normally closed contacts 2" and as the potential of the grid 12 has again reached g Hie Gloom-e of contacts 2* short-circuits switch tube 12 and the resistance 15 is re-established' 4 so that when the push button is released the so that the motor field l again receives a relamagnet switch 2 will stay closed. Closure of tively high current. contacts 2" completes the armature circuit of Starting of the current through the tube 12 themotcr. from line L through contacts 2, the reduces the high positive potential on the corn 40 Mature 1, starting resistance 8 and impedance denser plates 20 and 21 so that the potential 7 to line L. The motor field 1 is already exof the opposite plates attains a corresponding cited, as Will be explained later. The motor negative value. This causes the anode 13 of mature is thereupon accelerated. The opening tube 13 to become negative with respect to the 01' contacts 2 opens the circuit from line L to cathode 13* and current flow through said tube 45 line L through the resistance 6. Prior to the and the resistance 14 is stopped and is prevented opening of contacts 2 the grid 3" of tube 3 had from re-stariing until. the negative potential 01' a potential slightly positive with respect to its the grid 13 has been reduced by discharge curcathode 3'. Upon opening of contacts 2', conrent flow over a path from the grid and the plate plate 9" becomes negative, which causes 21*, through the resistance 17, adjustable re- 50 a co responding drop of potential of plate 9', so sistance 18 and through the tube 12, back to plate that the potential of grid 3 is reduced below 21. Hence when the grid 13 has again attained that of line L Simultaneously with the openits normal potential, the tube 13 becomes again in: 01' the contacts 2" the contacts 2' are closed, conducting and the cycle described above is rethua connecting the anode 3 to the line L and peated. By adjusting the resistances 18 and 19,

as thereon substantially the potential 01' it is possible to adjust the cycle of operation of the latter, while the cathode 3 has a potential the tubes 12 and 13, thereby adjusting the eilecwhichis equal to that 01 line L plus that oi the tive current of the field 1'. It is thus possible arid 3 therefore becomes still more negative of the motor. It will als) be apparent that the .0 with respect to the cathode 3. The closure of system insures that the motor always starts with contacts 2' impresses substantially line potential maximum field strength and the field regulating between the cathode 3* and the anode 3, but no means only becomes effective after (he motor has current can now as the grid 3 is negative. The attained approximately its normal speed and the negative potential 01' the grid 3 gradually leaks accelerating current has been reduced to ap- 5 on through the resistance 10 until the grid has proximately its normal value.

flow between the main electrodes of the tube. pedance 7 varies, thus causing a corresponding nergizes the winding 11 of switch 11 and variation of the bias of the grids 12 and 13, causes closure of the contact 11, thereby shortthereby varying the relative time during which 70 clrcuiting the starting resistance 8 and further the tubes 12 and 13 are conducting. accelerating the motor. It will further be apparent that any variation When the motor armature has accelerated the of the armature curren produces a correspondarmature current decreases to a normal value, ing variation of the grid bias of the tubes 12 and thus educing the voltage drop through the im- 13, thus varying the timing of said tubes and 75 Defiance 7. The Irid 13 of tube 13 has origithe resulting average field current in accordance moment dropped to a desired minimum.

with such armature current variation. Hence any rapid variation of the motor operating conditipns, which tends to produce a corresponding transient change of armature current, affects the timing of the tubes 12 and I3 and thereby reduces the magnitude of such transient currents.

Fig. 3 is a modification of Fig. 2 wherein the removal of the accelerating resistance in the armature circuit is made subject to control by the armature current through a current responsive relay. A current responsive relay 23, having a magnet winding 23 and normally closed contacts 23 has its winding connected in series withthe accelerating impedance 8 and its contacts are connected in series with the adjustable discharge impedance l0.

The system illustrated in Fig. 3 operates in the following manner: After the motor has been connected to the circuit in the manner aforedescribed, the armature current maintains the switch 23 in its attracted position, thereby pre'- venting discharge of the negative potential on the condenser plate 9 and grid 3. After the motor has accelerated sufficiently and the accelerating current has reached a low value, the switch 23 permits closure of contacts 23 thereby completing the discharge circuit around condenser 9 and permitting the grid 3 to gradually attain a potential which permits the flow of ourtube 3 and magnet winding 11 whereupon switch contacts ll short-circuit the impedance 8 in the manner aforedescribed in connection with Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that the accelerating impedance 8 is cut out of circuit only after a certain time has elapsed from the when the accelerating current has Relay 23 is cut out of circuit upon closure of switch 11, so that it has no further effect upon the control of the motor field.

If it is desired to stop the motor in the system shown in Figs. 1, 2 or 3 push button 5 is depressed, which causes deenergization of the switch 2 and opening of the armature circuit.

Other modifications coming within the scope of the description and claims will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a power supply, a motor, accelerating means for the motor, said means affording armature circuit commutation and including a gaseous electron tube having a grid, means to subject said grid to a transient potential under the influence of which said tube will be non-conducting for a given time interval and thereafter will afford full current flow instantly, and means for subjecting said grid to a further influence which is a function of the accelerating current.

2. In combination, a power supply, a motor, accelerating means for the motor armature circuit including a gaseous electron tube having a grid, means to subject said grid to a transient potential under the influence of which said tube will be non-conducting for a given time interval and thereafter will afford full current flow instantly, and means for subjecting said grid to a further influence which is a function of the accelerating current.

and discharge said stcragecircuit and subject said grid to the transient potential resulting from said discharge to thereby delay current flow through said tube for a given time interval.

4. In combination, a power supply, a motor connected to said supply and having an armature, accelerating resistance for said armature, means for commutatingsaid resistance including a gaseous electron tube having a grid, an energy storage circuit, and means to charge and discharge said storage circuit and subject said grid to the resultant transient discharge potential to thereby delay current flow through said tube for a given time interval.

5. In combination, a power supply, a motor connected to said supply and having an armature, accelerating resistance for said armature, means for commutating said resistance including a gaseous electron tube having a grid, an energy storage circuit, means to charge and discharge said storage circuit and subject said grid to a transient potential resulting from said discharge, to thereby delay current flow through said tube for a given time interval, and means for subjecting said grid to a further influence which is a function of the accelerating current and which affects the grid coincidently with the effect of the transient potential.

6. In combination, a power supply, a motor connected to said supply and having anarmature. accelerating resistance for said armature, means for commutating said resistance including a gaseous electron tube having a grid, an energy storage circuit, means to charge and discharge said storage circuit and subject said grid to a transient potential resulting from said discharge, to thereby delay current flow through said tube for a given time interval, and means connected to respond to the accelerating current of the motor and subjecting the discharge of said storage circuit to a delay which is a functionof such current.

i. In combination, a power supply, a motor connected to said supply and having an armature and field winding, accelerating resistance for said armature, means for commutating said resistance including a gaseous electron tube having a grid, an energy storage circuit, means to charge and discharge said storage circuit and subject said grid to a transient potential resulting from said rent flow through said tube for a given time interval, field regulating means, and means subjecting said grid and said field regulating means to an influence which is a function of the accelcrating current, the influence upon said grid being coincident with the effect of said transient potential.

8. In combination, a power supply, a motor connected to said supply and having an armature and a field winding, accelerating resistance for said armature, means for commutating said resistance including a gaseous electron tube having a grid, an energy storage circuit, means to charge and discharge said storage circuit and subject said grid to a transient potential resulting from said discharge, to thereby delay current flow through said tube for a given time interval, field regulating means, and means responsive discharge, to thereby delay curto the accelerating current of the motor for sub- 5 jecting the discharge of said storage circuit and said field regulating means to an influence which is a function of such current.

CARROLL 3. In combination, a powersupply, a motor, accelerating means for the motor, said means affording armature circuit commutation and including a gaseous electron tube having a grid,

s'rANsBURY. an energy storage circuit, and means to charge 

